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DESCRIPTION
DISCHARGE APPARATUS FOR FLOWABLE MEDIA
FIELD OF USE AND PRIOR ART
The invention relates to a discharge apparatus for flowable
media having a basic body for receiving a medium reservoir
and a thrust piston pump, which has a pump piston displace-
ably in a piston between a starting position and a pump
stroke end position, as well as a pump chamber connected to a
discharge opening of the apparatus by means of a discharge
channel and defined by a pump cylinder also forming the
medium reservoir and containing the pump piston.
WO 91/13689 shows a discharge apparatus for single use in
partial strokes according to the present invention.
Such a discharge apparatus is described in European patent
311 863 (= US patent 4 964 069) of the present applicant.
The patent specification discloses and protects the pump
cylinder and a resilient stop constructed in the manner of a
snap - locking means cooperating in such a way that prior to
the discharge of a partial stroke a specific actuating
pressure must be applied by the operator, so that after
overcoming this pressure point the discharge of the liquid
takes place with a certain minimum force and speed.
This construction ensures that e.g. on atomizing the medium
the pressure from the first instant is sufficient for
atomization purposes and that the pump is actuated up to its
end, i.e. performs the complete stroke and the entire content
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critical with respect to proportioning, contamination,
preservation or other criteria.
WO 92/00812 of the applicant also discloses the use of medium 5 reservoirs for
a single discharge stroke, which are sealed
by a plug simultaneously serving as the piston, the plug
being perforated by a needle for actuation purposes. The
medium reservoir is received in a sleeve, which has external
projections and which cooperate with corresponding
projections on the inside of a casing basic body in the
manner of a snap fastening. On actuation it is firstly
necessary to overcome the static friction, before said beads
slide on the faces against which they engage, so that a
pressure point must be overcome.
PROBLEM AND SOLUTION
The object of the invention is to so further develop such a
discharge apparatus in particular with a view to preventing
an accidental double use or incomplete actuation, whilst
avoiding the resulting contamination or proportioning
problems.
The. tamper-evident closure according to the invention can in
an embodiment of the invention be formed by at least one
material bridge between at least one pump portion movable
with the pump cylinder and a casing portion connected to the
basic body. The material bridge is advantageously formed by
a one-piece construction of the casing and pump portions.
Therefore a predetermined breaking point is created between
the mutually movable parts of the discharge apparatus, whose
intactness is a sure sign that the charge of filling of the
medium reservoir is unopened and unused. The user can
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establish this e.g. optically or by a slight turning of the
actuating part. To facilitate checking window cutouts can be
provided or parts of the pump can be made from transparent
material. It is also possible to use a plastics material,
which discolours in the case of a breaking deformation. Marks
on the movable portion and the casing would also be possible.
The material bridge is preferably formed between an actuating
sleeve retainincr and optionally partly receiving the pump
cylinder servincr as the medium reservoir and an inner portion
of a base casincr part provided with actuating shoulders. The
actuating shoulclers serve as a support for two fingers, the
thumb pressing on the actuating sleeve. An adequate force
can be: applied in order to shear or tear off the material
portion. As a result of the force applied simultaneously an
adequate actuating force is produced for a reliable actuation
of the pump.
The material bridges can e.g. be provided on the outer
circumference of the actuating sleeve and between the latter
and a ring surrounding said sleeve, which is in turn fixed to
the facing part, i.e. to the casing, by snapping in. This
makes it possible to manufacture the actuating sleeve
separately from the casing. However, the material bridges
could also be shaped onto the casing and the circular
fastening element could be fixed to the facing, movable part,
the pump cylinder or the actuating sleeve, by engagement or
in some other way.
According to a feature of the invention, the element which is
shaped onto the pump part via the material bridges, encloses
a projection of the housing from the outside. In this case,
the element covers the connecting gap between the pump part
and the housing completely and provides not only an optical
and fu:nctional merge between pump part and housing but
prevents also every possibility of manipulation of the
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tamper-evident connection. It should be preferably provided
that the snap-iri connection is secured against drawing off,
such that it is destroyed if someone tries to draw off the
pump cylinder from the housing. In this case, the material
bridges and the tamper-evident closure shall break.
It is especially preferred that the element is a ring with a
L-shaped cross section consisting of a substantially radial
bottom ring part and an adjacent jacket. The inside of the
jacket is preferably provided with a snap profile. This snap
profile can cooperate with a correspondingly shaped profile
at the ring or ring segment shaped projection in snap acting
manner.
These and further features can be gathered from the claims,
description and carawings and the individual features, both
singly and in the form of subcombinations, can be implemented
in an embodiment of the invention and in other fields and can
represent advantageous, independently protectable
constructions for which protection is hereby claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings, fig. 1 to 5 show, for better understanding,
a predecessor design of the present invention in order to
explairi some basic feature used in the present invention,
namely
Fig. 1 a longitudinal section through a discharge
apparatus with a tamper-evident closure,
Fig. 2 a view in the direction of the arrow II in Fig. 1,
Fig. 3 a detail from Fig. 2, but shown in section,
SHrET
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Fig. 4 a section along line IV in Fig. 2,
Fig. 5 a partial longitudinal section through a discharge
apparatus with a shaped on tamper-evident closure
ring.
A preferred embodiment of the invention is described in
greater detail hereinafter relative to fig. 6 and 7 of the
drawings, wherein show:
Fig. 6 a longitudinal section through the embodiment of
the invention,
Fig. 7 a top view of the embodiment of Fig. 6.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
The discharge apparatus 11 shown in Fig. 1 has a two-part
basic body 12. It contains a base casing part 13, which has
an epaulette-like shape with two actuating shoulders 14 and a
jacket 15 connected thereto. The base casing part is flat or
flat-oval and has its greatest extension in the drawing
plane, whereas it has smaller dimensions transversely
thereto. The jacket 15 is longer on the right and left-hand
sides in Fig. 1 and has on its two sides roughly parallel to
the drawing plane a cutout 16, which is open to the bottom.
On the base casing part 13 is injection moulded in one piece
an actuating sleeve 17, namely on the lower, inside of a
connector 18 projeacting upwards from the part 13. The one-
piece connection between the base casing part 13 and the
actuating sleeve 1.7 takes place by means of material bridges
19, as shown in Figs. 2 to 4. The gap 20 between the outer
S,,~Li,3
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edge of an upper flange 21 of the actuating sleeve 17 and an
inner flange projection 22 in the interior of the connector
18 is bridged in the represented embodiment by three thin
connecting webs, which have a triangular shape and whose tip
is shaped on thet web 22, so as to form predetermined breaking
points. From the manufacturing standpoint, as a result of
correspondingly small recesses, which scarcely exceed the
dimensions of a normal flash, they can be formed on the
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separeiting face between two plastic injection moulded parts,
which on the onE: hand form the space 23 in the interior of
the jacket 15 and on the other the space in the connector 18.
Correspondingly the three uniformly, circumferentially
distributed mate:rial bridges 19 are located in a plane formed
by the: inside arid bottom of the actuating shoulders 14 on the
one hand and the upper edge of the flange 21 on the other.
The actuating sleeve 17 has inner ribs 24, which roughly take
up 3/4 of the le:ngth of the sleeve, considered from its
bottom 25. on the same is supported the bottom 26 of a pump
cylinder 27, which has the shape of a roughly cylindrical,
bottom closed sleeve made from glass and having an upper side
flange: 28. It simultaneously forms the reservoir for the
medium 29 to be discharged and the pump cylinder. Its inner
circurnferential surface consequently forms the piston runway
30 fox= a piston 31, which is constructed in the form of a
rubber or simila.r elastic material piston plug. In
longitudinal section it has a H-shape and is a thick-walled
tube, whose outer jacket forms the piston runways, with a
central closure web 32 transversely closing the tube
interior, so that at the top and bottom, connecting onto the
closure web 32 depressions 33 are formed, which can be
roughly conical.
The piston plug 31 is located on the hermetically sealed
medium 29. Filling takes place with or without air
inclusions. The pump cylinder is inserted with slight pres-
sure in the upper part of the actuating sleeve and extends
with its largest part over and beyond the actuating shoulders
14 through the connector 18 and into a connector portion 34,
which can also be constructed as an adaptor. It is a finger-
like portion, which has a substantially cylindrical or =
slightly conical shaft with an upper, spherical rounding
running in the direction of the pump axis 35. In the centre =
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of said rounding is provided the discharge opening 36 in the
form of a conventional spray nozzle. However, the discharge
opening could a:lso be provided for some other discharge form,
e.g. for a doseci delivery of a liquid or pasty medium, or
could have other shapes, so as to permit better adaptation of
the delivery to the shape of any body opening. Therefore it
is also advantacfeous to manufacture the connector portion 34
separa-tely from the base casing part and is fixed thereto by
a snap fastenincr 37 with e.g. three tabs engaging in openings
and provided with a barb-like head, the connector portion
being centred ort the connector 18. In order to prevent a
removal of the connector portion 34, the snap fastening can
be conistructed in self-locking manner. A protective sleeve
38 protects the connector portion against contamination.
In the interior of the connector portion there is a piston
rod portion 39, which has an inner discharge channel 40 and
is inserted in the sleeve 41 shaped inwards on the upper end
of the connector portion 34. In said piston rod portion 39
is inserted a ram 42 in the form of a downwardly inclined
cut-off, hollow steel needle, e.g. by injecting or pressing
into an opening provided with corresponding retaining ribs.
With the exception of the steel needle 42, the piston plug 31
made from rubbery materials and the glass pump
cylinder/medium reservoir, all pump parts are plastic
injection mouldi:ngs.
During manufacture in the component surrounding the base
casing part 13 and the actuating sleeve 17 the pump cylinder
27 is inserted from above in the receptacle 43 formed in the
actuating sleeve 17. Said cylinder 27 contains the medium 29
tightly sealed through the piston plug 31.
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This is followed by the mounting of the connector portion, on
which have been preassembled the piston rod portion and the
ram 42 and it engages in the base casing part and is fixed
via the snap fastening 37. Thus, after fitting the
protective sleeve 38, the discharge apparatus is assembled.
For use purposes, follow'ing the removal by the user of the
protective sleeve 38, the discharge apparatus is taken up
between three fingers, two fingers resting on the shoulders
14 and the thumb on the bottom 25 of the actuating sleeve 17.
The thumb engages in the window-like cutout 16 and
consequently has an adequate actuating clearance. The
discharge opening 36 is directed onto the corresponding point
and by a powerful pressure on the actuating sleeve the
actuating pressure is built up to such an extent that the
predetermined breaking points formed by the material bridges
9 tear or shear and the actuating sleeve can be moved upwards
together with the pump cylinder. As a result of the prior,
powerful pressure build-up this takes place with a high
speed, which ensures a speedy performance of the discharge
stroke taking place. The pump cylinder is moved upwards
against the ram 42, so that the latter pieces the central web
32 of the piston plug, but as a result of the elasticity of
the piston plug material is immediately resealed on the outer
face. Only through the inner channel of the ram constructed
as a hollow needle can the medium escape upwards through the
discharge channel 40 and the discharge opening 36 and is
delivered there in sprayed or correspondingly proportioned
manner. The lower edge of the piston rod portion 39 can
engage on the upper face of the piston plug 31 and
consequently produce a direct pressure connection with the
piston, which runs downwards along the piston runway 30 and
conveys the medium to the discharge opening. The length of
the needle should be such that it does not project over the
lower boundary of the piston plug 31, so that an almost
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complEate discharge of the in certain circumstances very
expensive mediurn is ensured.
Thus, the discharge apparatus offers a possibility of
discharging sensitive and expensive materials in a planned
and pi-ecisely dosed manner. Through the tamper-evident
closui-e operatirig with material destruction it is possible at
any time to check intactness and it is ensured that there is
a complete delivery of the medium with an adequate actuating
pressure. The apparatus is simple to manufacture and fit,
whilst: can easi].y be adapted to different circumstances, e.g.
by dif'ferent adeiptor shapes. Following actuation the unit
comprising the pump cylinder 27 and actuating sleeve is loose
and can optionally be drawn out in the downwards direction.
The pump cylindesr 27 with the pump plug 31 can be removed,
so that the remainder, with the exception of the small
needle, is made from one type of material, optionally plastic
and can be correspondingly disposed of.
Fig. 5 shows in longitudinal section a detail of an
embodiment, in which the casing 13 and connector portion 34,
are constructed in one piece. The same reference numerals are
used for the same parts and reference is made to the previous
description of said parts and their function.
On the actuating sleeve 17, which receives the container 27,
is provided on the outside a fastening element 60 in the form
of an all-round ring with a L-shaped cross-section. It is
connected to the: actuating sleeve 17 by several material
bridges 19, which are so constructed and dimensioned, that
they tear away under the actuating pressure and consequently
separate the ring from the actuating sleeve. The fastening
element 60, actuating sleeve 17 and material bridges 19 are
injection moulded from plastic in one piece.
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The fastening element 60 is fixed to the casing 13 by a snap
connection 61. The fastening element is centred with its
axial leg on the inside of the connector portion 35, whereas
the outwardly directed leg latches in a depression at the
transition between the actuating shoulder 14 and the
connector portion 34.
During assembly the actuating sleeve is introduced together
with the container 27 forming the pump cylinder. An assembly
tool can press the lower engagement face 63 of the actuating
element 60 in Fig. 5, so that engagement of the latching
connection 61 takes place without any risk of damage to the
tamper-evident closure formed by the material bridges 19.
However, if the user moves the sleeve upwards, the material
bridges 19 tear and the.actuating sleeve, toge'ther with the
pump cylinder/container 27, can perform the puimp stroke in
the previously described manner. The actuating sleeve 17 is
guided on the one hand in the circular fastening element 60
(between the torn off material bridges) and on the other on
the inner webs 62 of the connector portion 34. An outer
flange of the container/pump cylinder 27 is also guided in
this way, which prevents tilting of the actuating means. The
material bridges 19 can also be constructed as split or
through film connections.
The fastening element 60 has a certain amount of axial and
radial clearance in the latching connection 61. This makes
it possible to intentionally or unintentionally turn the
actuating sleeve 17 without destroying the tamper-evident
closure. However, the latching connection must be
sufficiently strong that on drawing off the actuating sleeve
17 in the downwards direction the tamper-evident closure
tears. This ensures that there have been no undesired
manipulation of the content of the proportioning device.
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Thus, a tamper-evident closure has been provided, which
requires a higher, material-destroying actuating force in
order to unseal the medium reservoir 27, than would be needed
in thie case of a simple needle. This is aided by the
frictional force between the guide flange 47 and the
retaining clips 44 which, after overcoming the static
friction, pass into the sliding state and therefore release a
larger proportion of the expended actuating force for
actuation and overcoming the other resistances.
Figs. 6 and 7 sl.iow a prefered embodiment which has the same
structural and functional features as the embodiment of Fig.
5. Here also th<a same reference numerals are used for the
same parts and j~eference is made to previous description of
those parts and their function.
The element 60 which is connected to the actuating sleeve 17
by the material bridges 19, is a ring with an L-shaped cross
section. Accordingly it has a bottom ring 70 which has at its
inner side the inaterial bridges 19 connecting the bottom ring
70 integrally with the actuating sleeve 17. Parallel and
concentric with the actuating sleeve 17 is a jacket 71. At
the inner surface of the jacket 71 there is provided a snap
profi:Le 72 whiclz can e.g. consist of a barbed ring projection
(see the enlarg(ad detail in the dash-dotted circle in Fig.
7).
The element 60 covers a housing projection 61, which is ring-
shaped and surrounds the middle housing opening 74, in which
the pump cylinde_r 27 and its actuating sleeve 17 is
contained. The projection 61 projects from the housing 13 to
below,. The projection 61 can have a ring or tubular shape or
be in the shape of several segments arranged in ring-shaped
manner. At its outside it has a counter profile 63 matching
to the snap profile 72 of the jacket.
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Its snap action is provided such that during mounting of the
unit actuating sleeve/pump cylinder 17, 27 in the housing
opening 74 the element 60 is fixed by snap action at the
housing projection 61 and covers the latter. The power needed
for snapping-on is such that during snapping-on the material
bridges will not be over-stressed. If, however, a power in
the counter direction is exerted which could lead to a with-
drawal of the actuating sleeve 17 to below, the barbed shape
of the snap means 72, 73 provide that the material bridges 19
will be destroyed, thereby clearly evidencing tamper.
While in the embodiment of Fig. 5 the housing has a housing
jacket 15 projecting to below, the embodiment of Figs. 6 and
7 provides actuating shoulders 14 having the shape of flat
housing projection (Fig. 7) projecting laterally far past
the main portion 34 of the housing in two opposite direc-
tions. It has a generally oval shape. It enables a safe grip
of the apparatus between two fingers when pressing the thumb
on the lower bottom 25 of the actuating sleeve. Ribs 65 which
are to be seen from Fig. 7 in the in shape provide good grip
and stiffening, especially by a peripheral edge rib 77
projecting to above.
Thereby material will be saved without impairing stability,
which is of great importance for a single use product.
Further the lower surface of the actuating shoulder 14 can be
used for attaching markings, for instance batch numbers. The
actuating sleeve 17 can also be used for lables or other
visual marks.
At the outer circumference of the actuating sleeve 17 there
is provided a second ring-shaped element 76 at the distance a
from the lower surface 63 of element 70. Like element 70, the
second element 76 is also moulded in one piece with the
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actuating sleeve via material bridges 19b which may be of the
kind as shown in Figs. 2 to 4. They may however be somewhat
stronger than those of element 60.
This e:mbodiment provides a double stroke discharge device,
i.e. a discharge or spray device which is able to discharge
two exactly proportioned charges after each other. The ring-
shaped element 76 terminates the operation after the first
part of the stroke equivalent to the distance a. At this end
of this part of the stroke the operation force (counter
pressure of the liquid.etc.) and the force for breaking the
material bridges 19 are adding up. It is therefore unlikely
that the user overruns the second ring unintentionally.
After this stop which is usually half the way of the complete
stroke the user can break also the material bridges 19b by an
increased pressure on the pump part. When breaking the
material bridges 19b, the ring-shaped element 76 abuts the
contact surface 63 of element 60.
After the first ;part of the stroke of this two stroke
discharge apparatus, the container or pump cylinder 26 is
open via the hollow needle 36. For the use of a nasal spray,
this embodiment is however very advantageous for applying a
medicine into both nostrils consecutively but in even
proportion. The second stroke is thereby also tamper-proof.
It is to be noted that the embodiment of Fig. 6 provides a
closed and uncomplicated discharge apparatus which is easy to
operate and to pack.
